Khamenei Rejects Discussion of 'Lift of the Shadow of War' by 'Some Officials'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, rejected the discussion of the 'lift of the shadow of war' from Iran by 'some officials' on Sunday, April 29, stating: 'What has lifted the shadow of war, the shadow of the enemy from the country over these many years, has been the presence of the people.' Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly stated that the Vienna nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA has removed the 'shadow of war' from Iran and has brought significant economic achievements for the country. According to the state-owned Al-Alam website, Rouhani said in a speech in Yazd on Saturday, April 28: 'The people must determine on May 18, the day of the presidential election, whether they want the dignity of the country or the ominous shadow of war.' He also referred to the numerous resolutions passed against Iran due to its nuclear program, adding: 'Were there days when resolutions were like a sword over this nation, did the people have dignity, or today when we managed to annul all resolutions at the same United Nations?' Khamenei, speaking to a group of workers, added: 'Sometimes we hear and have heard in the past that some have said that when we took responsibility, we were able to lift the shadow of war from the country; no, these words are not correct. What has lifted the shadow of war, the shadow of the enemy from the country over these many years has been the presence of the people.' He previously referred to the idea that the JCPOA distanced war from Iran as a lie and stated that the U.S. still raises the military option. In this context, groups of conservatives in Iran have also rejected Rouhani's statements. For instance, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guards, stated: 'The claim that the JCPOA removed the shadow of war is a lie, and what has prevented war is Iran's defensive progress.' According to the Law website, quoting this IRGC official, 'Sometimes our officials say that if Iran does not reach an agreement with the West, war may occur. They whispered this in the ears of officials before the JCPOA. After that, some officials said the JCPOA removed the shadow of war from the nation. Unfortunately, some inside repeat this unknowingly. This is a lie. This is an insult.' Khamenei also addressed presidential candidates, saying: 'Enter the field to serve the weaker classes; the country will not be set right except through jihadist and revolutionary work.' He added: 'Make your intentions divine; it should not be for power; it should be for service, especially to the weaker classes of the country. Choose slogans in such a way that everyone knows you want to support the weak class of the country.' Some presidential candidates, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Ebrahim Raisi, the main conservative candidates, have repeatedly criticized the increasing class gap in Iran and promised that if they win the election on May 18, they will strive to improve the economic conditions for the majority of the people. However, their promises have been described as unrealistic by Rouhani and Eshaq Jahangiri, two other presidential candidates. The leader of the Islamic Republic also stated that he will never tell the people whom to choose. Previously, in past presidential elections in Iran, there have been speculations about the Supreme Leader's preference for one of the candidates.